Mainstay Insurance

From time to time we have prospective, or existing clients ask us about WSIB coverage and if it is mandatory.  In some cases they have never “signed up”, in others the activities of the business have changed.

This article explains a bit about how WSIB registration works, and why you should do so voluntarily (if required), rather than be found in violation and subject to fines, penalties and back premium.

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A surprisingly common event in the practice of workers’ compensation law is the frantic, sometimes even panicked email or phone call from a client, potential client, or the lawyer or accountant of such a business. The pattern is generally the same.

“We have been in business for X years. Nobody ever told us before that we had to register for workers’ compensation, but now so and so is telling me that we have a big problem because we didn’t. If this is compulsory, why doesn’t somebody tell you that at the beginning?”

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Littler is one of the worlds largest employment law firms and they do an annual HR conference on issues around…you guessed it, employment law.

If you are an HR professional and want a great place to learn more sign up now.  The event sells out fast (and is free!) so book a spot quickly if interested.  Register HERE

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2019 Canada Conference – November 21, 2019 – Toronto

The premier labour and employment law conference returns to Toronto for its fourth annual single-day event.

As part of Littler’s 2019 International Conference series and through this year’s theme – Fueled by Ingenuity, Inspired by You: Your Challenges, Our Solutions – we’ll help you navigate the continually shifting employment and labour law terrain.

Together, we’ll explore how to minimize organizational risk, develop strategic solutions to enhance compliance, and implement practical measures that will benefit and sustain your workplace. Challenges will be tackled with ingenuity and we will suggest innovative groundbreaking solutions that your business needs to succeed.

Speakers from multiple jurisdictions will cover:

• The 2019 Employment Law Update
• Life Cycle Issues in the Workplace: How to Attract and Retain Employees with Family Friendly Benefits, Programs and Policies
• Trending Employment Law Issues for Canada’s Leading Corporations
• Key Issues in Employment Agreements from a Canadian and American Perspective: Practical Pointers, Strategies and Tips

New to this year’s agenda will be the addition of Littler Talks, stories of achievement and success through life’s challenges and how the journey shaped the professional and personal lives of lawyers in our firm.

The conference will feature keynote speaker Frank Iacobucci, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada (1991 – 2004). Justice Iacobucci will provide a retrospective on seminal employment law decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada and analyze emerging employment law issues.

For more information about this year’s conference, please refer to the agenda.

This conference has been specifically designed for those within the legal, human resources and employee relations professions.

Date:	November 21, 2019
Location:	The St. Regis Toronto — Toronto, Ontario
Registration:	8:30 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.
Conference:	9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Professional Development:	CLE, HRPA, HRCI and SHRM credit is pending. This program contains: – 3 hours and 45 minutes of Substantive Content – 1 hour of Professionalism Content – 30 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content
Event Information:	Conference is complimentary and includes: meals, valet parking and program materials.

Register HERE

I came across this page of resources intended for small businesses and thought it may be of interest.  If you want to know your responsibilities as a small business employer read on…

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Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), small business employers have many of the same duties as any other employer, including the following:

• to do everything they reasonably can to protect their workers in each situation
• to inform, instruct and supervise workers to protect their health and safety
• to make sure that every worker and supervisor takes the required training, including basic occupational health and safety awareness training, and keep records of that training

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Although many clients have seen better than average rate increases in the past year (many with no change or even small reductions), the coming year looks be just the opposite.  I have put together a document that indicates what will likely happen in the coming year.  If you are receiving pressure from employees to enhance benefits, this may be a good page to share with them to show what lies ahead, and how your benefit costs may be increasing at a faster than normal rate.  it is also a good reminder for them to watch for and avoid fraud schemes

Each clients plan design, staff age, and turnover, as well as individual claims will be what sets your actual rates in the coming year.  The areas we’ve identified are just a few factors affecting rate increases that are beyond the control of you, the insurers, your employees(and except for fraud) or ourselves.

Employer Update 2020

I have had Liz Scott from Organizational Solutions speak at several of my broker education events.  She is interesting and has as varied an education as she does experience.  Now you can hear her direct to learn more about the WSIB changes affecting your firm.

Experts in Workers’ Compensation Claims Management will be sharing what the changes mean for employers and answering any questions on the big changes coming soon.

If your firm is required to carry (mandatory) WSIB coverage, then you’ll want to know more (and connect to a valuable resource).

REGISTER HERE

 

I know that not all my clients have to have WSIB coverage, but thought I’d share this recent article that I received.

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Great news for business owners in Ontario: The WSIB will cut 2020 premiums by an average of 17%! This means that $607-million can stay in the province’s businesses, instead of going to the government….

How do I find out my new rate group?

Please keep an eye on your mailbox! The WSIB sent information to every business that pays WSIB premiums. Each customized statement includes your new rate class, your 2020 rate, your projected rate, and details on the WSIB’s transition approach.

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There are a number of surveys that come out near the fall/end of year, to estimate salary trends.  This is just one, but gives an indicator of where things are going…

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Employers in Canada are expecting base salaries to rise by an average of 2.7 per cent in 2020, says Morneau Shepell’s 2020 ‘Salary Projection Survey.’ This is an increase from the actual 2.6 per cent average increase in 2019. The forecast includes increases in salary structure, length of service, cost of living and merit pay, and excludes salary freezes and promotional adjustments. The expected 2.7 per cent increase is higher than the projected rate of inflation for the year. In July, the Bank of Canada noted that consumer price index inflation is expected to rise to about two per cent by the end of 2020. When looking at economic growth, the Bank of Canada projects the Canadian economy will grow by just 1.4 per cent in 2019. “While the Canadian economy is projected to see slowed growth in the coming year, we’re expecting to see continued wage increases as a result of the tightening labour market,” says Anand Parsan, vice-president, compensation consulting practice. “Employers are optimistic about the anticipated growth in 2020. We have seen a steady rise in projected base salary increases over the past few years, with actual numbers equal to or above our forecast since 2017.”

http://bpmmagazine.com/news/

This post is not really benefits focussed, but it came up in a recent conversation with a client, so when I saw the article, I thought I’d pass it along.

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On Election Day, eligible electors — i.e., Canadian citizens 18 years or older who are registered to vote — are entitled to three consecutive hours to vote between when the polls open and when they close. If an employee’s work schedule does not otherwise allow for this, an employer must grant them time off to vote.

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I’ve attached a series of Questions and Answers that I recently received from an employment law firm.  Some are geared to employers and others to employees.  Both can be useful to understand specific parts of the Ontario Employment Standards.

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Q&A: The Rights of Ontario Employees to Overtime Pay

Q&A: Maternity Leave & Your Rights as an Employee in Ontario

Q&A: Vacation Entitlements for Ontario Employees and Employers

Q&A: Employment Insurance (“EI”) and Severance

Q&A: Temporary Lay-Offs from Work

Q&A: Ontario Severance Packages and Termination of Employment

Just read this great article for those travelling abroad.  Share it wth staff, family and friends.  I find that if we’re prepared, thenigs always tend to work out for the better (maybe it comes from the old sailing adage of …Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance)

I have also added the SOS numbers to reach the Canadian Government to the Mainstay USEFUL LINKS page.

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Dreaming about your next getaway? That probably means imagining unlimited glasses of mojitos and sunshine or an afternoon spent getting lost down the streets of a new city… or maybe both (but hopefully not at once). Whatever your ideal vacation looks like, the last thing that’s on your mind before arriving is the accidents that could occur while travelling. But the reality is, emergencies abroad can and do occur.

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